An adult owl marches about the countryside looking for food to feed its brood of hungry owlets on a farm in Lancashire. The bizarre scene was captured by keen snapper Austin Thomas who had to stay camouflaged and stop himself from laughing in case he scared the funny birds and missed out on getting the shots.Picture: AUSTIN THOMAS / CATERS NEWS

Two-month-old Bengal tiger cub Tily at the animal refuge La Fundación Refugio Salvaje (Furesa) in La Libertad on the outskirts of San Salvador. The refuge takes care of species in danger of extinctionPhotograph: ULISES RODRIGUEZ/REUTERS

An elephant showers a leopard with water to protect the herd. The leopard had been stalking the herd of around 15 elephants when one decided to frighten it off. The picture was taken by Mark Muller in Etosha National Park of Namibia at the Kalkeuwel waterhole.Picture: MARK VINCENT MULLER / CATERS NEWS

Pink Panther at Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa by Deon De Villiers
Tourists had reported seeing the fashion-forward feline, but only recently Deon De Villiers, a photographer and safari guide, caught the kitty on film. He sent the photo to Panthera, a wild cat conservation group.
The light-furred leopard may have erythrism said Panthera’s president, Luke Hunter, in National Geographic. Erythrism is a genetic condition believed to cause production of either too much red or too little dark pigment.
“It’s really rare — I don’t know of another credible example in leopards,” said Hunter.
The leopard doesn’t seem to be suffering from his condition.
“He’s obviously a successful animal,” Hunter said.
The danger is if he leaves the borders of the preserve. Then his pale pelt could end up as a trophy hunter’s prize.
Photo: Fair-furred leopard. Courtesy of Deon De Villiers of SafaGraphics.

Motswari Leopard!!A male Leopard known as Makepesi poses elegantly. Image taken in Motswari Private Game Reserve in the heart of the Timbavati Nature Reserve in South Africa. BOOK NOW ! to join their next “Big Cats” photo safari at www.southcapeimages.comby MARIOMORENO Photography

A six-month-old orangutan rescued from a pet owner learns to climb a tree while undergoing rehabilitation at the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program quarantine area in Sibolangit village in Indonesia’s Sumatra islandPhotograph: Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty Images

A newborn common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) baby peeking out from its mother’s pouch in the Budapest Zoo, Hungary. The baby was born in winter and is a big sensation as a wombat cub hasn’t been born in European zoos in 20 years, and outside Australia only 22 wombats live in 12 zoosPhotograph: Attila Kovacs/EPA